Chapter Thirteen:

Epilogue

Sixteen Years Later…

Kayce Grey, for the first time in seven years, held her mother's hand extra tight. The fifteen-year-old gulped as she looked at the train that would take her to the "Academy for the Gifted"—a school for Conduits, like herself.

"Nervous?" her mother asked.

She nodded hesitantly. "Hard not to be."

Her mother smiled and hugged her daughter, who was nearly her own height now. "Look, kiddo, I know it's not close to us, but I think this is the best thing we can do for you."

Kayce returned the hug. "I just don't get something, mom…"

"What's that?" her mother asked as her father tousled the older woman's hair, earning him the famous "death glare".

"How'd you know I was a Conduit?" she asked.

Her mother smiled. "Call it a hunch," she replied.

"I don't believe you," her daughter said sourly.

The older woman laughed and studied her daughter. Beautiful green eyes and red hair like her own, and yet she had the mischievous sparkle of her father in those eyes.

"I'll make you a deal…" She pointed to the train. "If you can make the top fifty at the Academy, I'll tell you all about it."

"And if I don't?"

"Then you'll suffer!" her father said evilly.

Kayce frowned. "I guess I can do that!"

"Good." The whistle on the train sounded through the air, so Kayce's mother and father quickly ushered her to the door, where Kayce promptly found a seat and looked out the window at her parents. "And make sure you don't hurt anyone!" her mother added.

"That I can't promise!" Kayce replied, smiling.

Kayce was joined by her friends Trish MacGrath (who was a year older) and Violet Chance (who was Kayce's own age), and they waved through the window at their parents as the train pulled away.

Lance Grey pulled his wife into a hug, even though she was facing the opposite direction. "They grow up so fast…" he muttered.

Joan Grey nodded. "I know. I'll have grandchildren the next time I blink!"

"Speak for yourself," Cole muttered. "I already have grandchildren. That's gonna be a tough one to explain."

Lucy MacGrath nodded. "It's even weirder to explain to Zeke that Joan's technically his sister."

Joan smiled. "So, little Zeke doesn't know yet?"

"Obviously not," Dana said, smirking. "You keep a lot of secrets, Joan."

"How so?" she asked her half-sister.

"Like how you knew about Gabby all those years ago," Dana said. "I still can't figure it out."

Joan shrugged. "Maybe I'll tell you sometime."

Alec sighed. "Dammit, Jo…"

Lance quickly kissed Joan on the cheek and led his wife away from the tracks. "Let's get back. I'll bet that Jace's terrorizing the babysitter again."

Dana nodded. "You'd better hurry! That kid's gonna be trouble when he grows up!"

"Oh, worry about your own kids!" Joan snapped. "You have three, don't you?"

Lance smiled and got into the car with his wife a few moments later. "Dinner at the spaghetti place?" he asked.

"Right after we check up on Jace," Joan agreed. "Then we can ask Helen if she'd like to babysit."

"I'm sure she'll be fine with it," Lance said, smiling. "She's his grandmother, after all."

Joan smiled and looked at two pictures. One with Zeke and his wife, Olivia, who were smiling (and Zeke wasn't wearing his sunglasses). The second was of Joan, Lance, Alec, Dana, Cole and Lucy. The three happy couples were smiling, though Joan seemed ticked-off somehow (as usual), but she was sporting a round baby-belly, larger than Dana's.

"Let's take another picture sometime," Joan suggested. "And this time, I promise I'll try to smile. As long as you don't piss me off."

Lance leaned over and quickly kissed her. "That I know you can't promise!"